I was invited to travel with Austin Adventures recently while in Montana and Cody Wyoming on a media trip. My opinion is truthful. A raven-haired young woman dressed in an emerald green ball gown sits beside a woman in white and brown fashionable dress at a table inside a saloon. Two men talk loudly about rustling up horses, as a stranger saunters in, wearing a black cowboy shirt and pants, with elaborate leather boots, the kind that make a noisy clattering every time the heel makes contact with the floor. Someone’s spurs jingle. The two women whisper, and all eyes…
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Hundreds of families push strollers through downtown Beaverton, Oregon while middle aged couples line up at each food station waiting their turn to buy everything, from organic fruit popsicles to Falafel burgers, and gourmet grilled cheese. Nearby, in a green space, families spread out impromptu picnics on the lawn. Some stroll hand in hand browsing bright coloured Indian scarves, Korean jewelry, crafty bookmarks and holiday decorations made from old tattered, repurposed, maps. Across the tracks, a cable car periodically splits the crowd in two, while police stand by watching and guarding barricades. The streets are cordoned off in a radius…
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Post may contain affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission for purchases made via qualifying links. It should come as no surprise to most people who regularly read this, or follow me online, that I struggle to maintain good gut health. I have Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and talk about that here on the site sometimes too. In fact, I am on a constant quest to maintain, or establish good gut health. That can be an uphill battle often. Frequent exercise, research and self care work in my favour to help me…
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There are museums that move you and spark imagination. And there are others that are simply awe inspiring and powerful. Occasionally there are some that are simply in need of an overhaul. New museums at this point in time when technology, digital, social and virtual reality are exploding need to reach forward at the same time as they harken back to capture history. Epic Museum Dublin, currently the world’s only fully digital museum, bridges past and present and bursts forth in a dynamic multi-sensory experience that is entirely unique and inspiring. In Dublin’s Docklands Epic Museum Dublin is without a…
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Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. When winter comes, and the chills with it, it is time to winterize your home! That doesn’t mean getting on the phone, calling up the oil company, and turning up the thermostat to 85 degrees! That would burn a wallet-sized hole right through your pocket. There are cheaper ways to winterize your home. Keep more money in your pocket and follow these easy tips to winterize your home instead. Start Here to Winterize Your Home Insulation First things first. Insulation is vital to a warm and energy efficient home. Holes and…
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I was a guest of Tualatin Valley and the Washington County Visitors Association this year and I received accommodations, food, and all activities in exchange for consideration here. You’ve never stayed anywhere quite like this. McMenamins Grand Lodge Hotel is pure Oregon, mystical, quirky and a bit out there, a getaway brimming with magic, served up with a side of mysticism, rooted in rich history. This former Masonic & Eastern Star property is located in Oregon’s wine country, and is a charming spot to launch your exploration of Tualatin Valley. In fact, this would be a good place for me…
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Christmas travel sounds like the plot of a slapstick comedy movie, right? Picture Kevin McAllister waking too late and missing the shuttle to the airport, or his Mom realizing he’s not on the plane. Chaos and crowds and family and all the expectations!! Well, holiday travel need not be a complete disaster, and frankly it should never cost you a year of mortgage payments just to take a bit of R and R. Plan ahead, sit back, relax and enjoy. Here’s why Christmas travel need not be the punchline to a joke. Instead make it the start of a wonderful…
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I received complimentary admissions and food while on a tour of Billings Montana. Billings Montana, or Montana’s Trailhead, is poised at an interesting crossroads. The biggest city by population in the vast state of Montana, Billings is being reimagined. While this area has historically identified with cowboy culture, the great outdoors and the wild west, it is also embracing and investing in arts and culture, leading to a downtown core revitalization. More of a slow burn than an overnight transformation, the arts and history district, as well as museums and cultural venues in Billings are evolving. There are numerous cultural…
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No big surprise for many of you that we love to ski. We have done at least one epic ski trip every single year since learning how to ski at Tremblant in 2015. We have stayed: on the mountain, at the resort, right at the base of the lodge, ten minutes away, half an hour away, in condos and most recently in a ski in ski out lodge. So, we have formed some opinions of the benefits and even the slight inconveniences associated with each type of family ski trip accommodations. Ski in ski out lodges are our new favourite…
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A home office printer is a staple in almost everyone’s household. But what’s the least favourite part of your office printer? That’s right – the ink cartridges! I love gadgets, and printers and I feel so accomplished when I set a new one up and it works like a charm. But, what I do not love is replacing cartridges constantly. They are so expensive and the waste! Whether you work from home or not, you probably have some sort of office space, and in that office space, you have a printer. If you’re looking to upgrade your home office printer,…